Taliban in Control By: Ali Watkins, Amanda Stankis, & Jack Cresenzo
Taliban Coming to Power The Taliban, a Muslim fundamentalist group, took over Afghanistan's government in 1996 and was in power until 2001. The Taliban is known for providing protection for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. The Taliban distorts the rules of Islam by publicly executing criminals and banning education for women. The Taliban is basically made up of the mixture of mujahideen and a group of Pashtun tribesmen. The Taliban has kept their power mainly in East and South of Kabul. In 1994, the Taliban became a force and took over the capital of Afghanistan in 1996 and took control of the national government. The Taliban took over about 90 percent of Afghanistan but was never officially recognized by the United Nations.
Results of Taliban's Power
As the Taliban rose to power in Afghanistan, the people were under a strict form of Islamic law, forcing women to be totally covered head to toe, banning music, specific literature, and television. With this being said, we have learned that Muslims are all about peace. No where in the Koran does it say it is okay to kill innocent people. The Taliban believes that if they sacrifice themselves, they will earn a ticket to the gates of heaven. Although we can understand where they're coming from, it still is wrong for them to believe that other innocent civilians who do not agree with the Taliban are evil and should be destroyed. From being raised and brainwashed to think like this, it is the only thing they know that they believe is right. The war against terrorism has been an ongoing war throughout Afghanistan and our own country. It is a new war where insurgents and innocent people can be drawn into the same line, making it difficult for who the enemy is. Many Afghani's just want the war to be over with and actually want our help. A generation of kids today have only known war, a lot like the conflict in Africa. It is called Operation: Enduring Freedom for a reason. I believe we are there to spread democracy and contribute to reduce terrorism in Afghanistan. It is the Taliban who we have pictured in our minds. It is the reason why American's think the way we do today because we misconstrue the Taliban to any other Middle-Eastern in Iraq, Afghanistan or whatever the case may be.
7 STEPS TO TAKING OVER THE WORLD
1. Come in Peace
"The Taliban was initially a mixture of mujahideen who fought against the Soviet invasion of the 1980s, and a group of Pashtun tribesmen who spent time in Pakistani religious schools, or madrassas, and received assistance from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI). The group's leaders practiced Wahhabism, an orthodox form of Sunni Islam similar to that practiced in Saudi Arabia. With the help of government defections, the Taliban emerged as a force in Afghan politics in 1994 in the midst of a civil war between forces in northern and southern Afghanistan. They gained an initial territorial foothold in the southern city of Kandahar, and over the next two years expanded their influence through a mixture of force, negotiation, and payoffs. In 1996, the Taliban captured Kabul, the Afghan capital, and took control of the national government."
Basically, the Taliban started during the Afghan-Soviet war during the late 70s and early 80s and was formed by some of the refugee camps. But in 1994, Mohammad Omar, today's leader of the Taliban formed the militia in southern place of Afghanistan called Kandahar. The basic goal of the Taliban was to re-unite Afghanistan by following the beliefs of the Koran. Sounds peaceful, right? Well, the Taliban won the hearts of the Afghanis by telling them that they would stop the chaos and disorder of the country so it can be united once again. Little did they know, by the time of June 1997 the Taliban controlled 2/3 of the country.
2. Expose Flaws in Existing Belief System The Taliban wanted to re-unite Afghanistan and they felt that the only way their mission would be possible was if the entire country followed under one religion, or a way of life - by being Islam and following the strict religious Islam law called the Sharia. It started out with banning television, radios, computers and even movies because it distracted the Afghanis from what it truly meant to be Islam. Apparently, any depictions of living things like photography, sculptures and paintings are banned. The main focus of the Taliban is to have everyone's focus on Islamic laws and religion and those who are the least bit distracted by something outside of the laws are publicly punished.
3. Recruit
The Taliban has been using mosques as a way to recruit mainly younger Afghanis to into the group. The members of the Taliban persuade the people by telling them that the main purpose of the group is to follow the Islamic law and religion, which is basically dictatorship because only the Taliban can appoint those who are in fault.
4. Ensure Safety and Provide Basic Needs
In the 1908's, radical Muslims were given weapons and funding to drive the Soviets out of Afghanistan. In the eyes of most of the Afghani's, the initial coming of the Taliban during their time of crisis was the answer to their prayers. The citizens agreed to all the changing ways of the Taliban in return for food, shelter, jobs, and money. They felt safe under Taliban rule.
5. Provide a New Belief
The Taliban interpreted the Islamic faith in their favor, which was an extremist point of view. They took ideals from other religious groups such as the Wahhabi and the Deobandi, and they decided and dictated who was Muslim. Hazaras and those under the Shia faith were not considered true Muslims according to the Taliban. The Taliban claim that they are following the teachings of Islam in response to their actions, even though Islam is completely against violence and terrorism of any kind.
6. Set Up a New Government
The Taliabn leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, set Sharia Laws and Pashtun Tribal Codes in place as the new laws. The new laws consisted of the bans on exposure concerning women and the beard and hair etiquette concerning men. Women had to cover themselves completely to prevent men from becoming lost in lust. Men had to grow their beards to signify respect and manliness. If you were a man without a beard, you were not respected and not considered a true man. They also had to keep their head hair short and wear a head covering at all times.
7. Make An Example
New laws were enforced by the "religious police" who would publicly beat violators. In a place where soccer and recreation used to take place, the Ghazi Stadium, there were extremely crowded public executions. Theft resulted in the amputation of a hand and anyone who cheated on their spouse would be stoned to death.
Taliban in Control
By: Ali Watkins, Amanda Stankis, & Jack Cresenzo
Taliban Coming to Power
The Taliban, a Muslim fundamentalist group, took over Afghanistan's government in 1996 and was in power until 2001. The Taliban is known for providing protection for Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. The Taliban distorts the rules of Islam by publicly executing criminals and banning education for women. The Taliban is basically made up of the mixture of mujahideen and a group of Pashtun tribesmen. The Taliban has kept their power mainly in East and South of Kabul. In 1994, the Taliban became a force and took over the capital of Afghanistan in 1996 and took control of the national government. The Taliban took over about 90 percent of Afghanistan but was never officially recognized by the United Nations.
Results of Taliban's Power
As the Taliban rose to power in Afghanistan, the people were under a strict form of Islamic law, forcing women to be totally covered head to toe, banning music, specific literature, and television. With this being said, we have learned that Muslims are all about peace. No where in the Koran does it say it is okay to kill innocent people. The Taliban believes that if they sacrifice themselves, they will earn a ticket to the gates of heaven. Although we can understand where they're coming from, it still is wrong for them to believe that other innocent civilians who do not agree with the Taliban are evil and should be destroyed. From being raised and brainwashed to think like this, it is the only thing they know that they believe is right. The war against terrorism has been an ongoing war throughout Afghanistan and our own country. It is a new war where insurgents and innocent people can be drawn into the same line, making it difficult for who the enemy is. Many Afghani's just want the war to be over with and actually want our help. A generation of kids today have only known war, a lot like the conflict in Africa. It is called Operation: Enduring Freedom for a reason. I believe we are there to spread democracy and contribute to reduce terrorism in Afghanistan. It is the Taliban who we have pictured in our minds. It is the reason why American's think the way we do today because we misconstrue the Taliban to any other Middle-Eastern in Iraq, Afghanistan or whatever the case may be.
7 STEPS TO TAKING OVER THE WORLD
1. Come in Peace
"The Taliban was initially a mixture of mujahideen who fought against the Soviet invasion of the 1980s, and a group of Pashtun tribesmen who spent time in Pakistani religious schools, or madrassas, and received assistance from Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI). The group's leaders practiced Wahhabism, an orthodox form of Sunni Islam similar to that practiced in Saudi Arabia. With the help of government defections, the Taliban emerged as a force in Afghan politics in 1994 in the midst of a civil war between forces in northern and southern Afghanistan. They gained an initial territorial foothold in the southern city of Kandahar, and over the next two years expanded their influence through a mixture of force, negotiation, and payoffs. In 1996, the Taliban captured Kabul, the Afghan capital, and took control of the national government."
Basically, the Taliban started during the Afghan-Soviet war during the late 70s and early 80s and was formed by some of the refugee camps. But in 1994, Mohammad Omar, today's leader of the Taliban formed the militia in southern place of Afghanistan called Kandahar. The basic goal of the Taliban was to re-unite Afghanistan by following the beliefs of the Koran. Sounds peaceful, right? Well, the Taliban won the hearts of the Afghanis by telling them that they would stop the chaos and disorder of the country so it can be united once again. Little did they know, by the time of June 1997 the Taliban controlled 2/3 of the country.
2. Expose Flaws in Existing Belief System
The Taliban wanted to re-unite Afghanistan and they felt that the only way their mission would be possible was if the entire country followed under one religion, or a way of life - by being Islam and following the strict religious Islam law called the Sharia. It started out with banning television, radios, computers and even movies because it distracted the Afghanis from what it truly meant to be Islam. Apparently, any depictions of living things like photography, sculptures and paintings are banned. The main focus of the Taliban is to have everyone's focus on Islamic laws and religion and those who are the least bit distracted by something outside of the laws are publicly punished.
3. Recruit
The Taliban has been using mosques as a way to recruit mainly younger Afghanis to into the group. The members of the Taliban persuade the people by telling them that the main purpose of the group is to follow the Islamic law and religion, which is basically dictatorship because only the Taliban can appoint those who are in fault.
4. Ensure Safety and Provide Basic Needs
In the 1908's, radical Muslims were given weapons and funding to drive the Soviets out of Afghanistan. In the eyes of most of the Afghani's, the initial coming of the Taliban during their time of crisis was the answer to their prayers. The citizens agreed to all the changing ways of the Taliban in return for food, shelter, jobs, and money. They felt safe under Taliban rule.
5. Provide a New Belief
The Taliban interpreted the Islamic faith in their favor, which was an extremist point of view. They took ideals from other religious groups such as the Wahhabi and the Deobandi, and they decided and dictated who was Muslim. Hazaras and those under the Shia faith were not considered true Muslims according to the Taliban. The Taliban claim that they are following the teachings of Islam in response to their actions, even though Islam is completely against violence and terrorism of any kind.
6. Set Up a New Government
The Taliabn leader, Mullah Mohammad Omar, set Sharia Laws and Pashtun Tribal Codes in place as the new laws. The new laws consisted of the bans on exposure concerning women and the beard and hair etiquette concerning men. Women had to cover themselves completely to prevent men from becoming lost in lust. Men had to grow their beards to signify respect and manliness. If you were a man without a beard, you were not respected and not considered a true man. They also had to keep their head hair short and wear a head covering at all times.
7. Make An Example
New laws were enforced by the "religious police" who would publicly beat violators. In a place where soccer and recreation used to take place, the Ghazi Stadium, there were extremely crowded public executions. Theft resulted in the amputation of a hand and anyone who cheated on their spouse would be stoned to death.
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